I recently found out that the namesake of the Cooey firearms company was a distant relative of mine. Now I'm trying to find out more about their guns.
So far it appears they started around 1919 and were sold to Winchester around 1961. Apparently mostly made .22 rifles and were/are common in Canada.
Can anyone give me more information about the company, their guns and anything else of interest? Pictures and/or info about any Cooey firearms you own are always welcome.
The definitive (and only) published source is "Cooey Firearms Made in Canada 1919-1979" by John A. Belton. Paperback published by Museum Restoration Service, Alexandria Bay, N.Y. 13607-0070 and cataloged by them as No. 28 in their Historical Arms Series.
I actually have been googling the name and haven't come up with all that much. I did just find the reference to that book, now I have to find where to order it.
I can't add anything concerning the company, but here are a singleshot model 75 and a tube fed rifle,model 60. The repeater's magazine tube moves back and forth as the bolt is cycled, odd mechanism.
The first shotgun I ever fired was a Cooey 12 bore single barrel , loaned to me by a game keeper , I expect he thought it would be safer with one shot only .
A few years aback I purchased two Cooey WW2 training rifles in 22LR. I did some digging and found they were Canadian makers of inexpensive 22 rifles and the Canadian government had contracted with them at the start of the war to provide basic 22 trainers for the Canadian army. Although not fancy by any means, they were dependable training rifles. If I remember correctly, each of mine sold for around $400 each. Might be a nice collectible to have.
COOEY FIREARMS COMPANY IS WHAT WINCHESTER IS TO USA ,COOEY BUILT GREAT LITTLE 22 SINGLE AND REPEATER RIFLES AND SINGLE SHOT SHOTGUNS IN AL GAUGES EXCEPT 10 GA(ECINOMINAL). THIS IS THE GUN EVERY HUNTER STARTED WITH AND USED FROM 1919 TO PRESENT DAY. PLEASE GET THE SMALL BOOKLET THAT THE FELLOW RECOMENDED, IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE PM ME, BEST REGARDS dALE IN CANADA
Thanks for the pics and info, keep it coming. That 6C looks a lot like the Savage 64, which from what I have read may be related to it. I read somewhere that the Cooey designs (and maybe more) were sold off by Winchester to Lakefield (in the 70s) which was then bought by Savage (in the 90s). Does anyone know if this is true and/or have any other details?
I think you're right about Cooey building a .22 semi-auto that has eventually turned into the Savage 64. I have a Stevens 62 that is the same gun as a Savage 64. I actually have a Savage 64 bull barrel on the Stevens 62 and it works great. Also, you can download the manual for the 64 off of Savage's website and it lists it as being for the 64 and also the 62 and the 954. I can't remember exactly but I think the 954 is another brand that is the same as the 62 and 64.
Well, you asked for interesting information
, so don't blame me for the following tidbit. In the 60's I worked for the Hudsons Bay Company in the Territories and we used to sell Cooey rifles. They were a standing joke to the Innuit, not because of their quality- they were durable dependable, accurate guns, but because of their name. The word "cooey" in Innuit means Urine, so I'll let you guess what the Innuit had as a second meaning for "Cooey Rifle"! The Innuit are a great people with a very earthy sense of humour! When I had just arrived up there, I couldn't figure out why my offering to lend my Cooey rifle would send all the bystanders into hysterics!
Yes the Savage 64 is an Cooey design, you must under stand Winchester bought Cooey in the 1960's and produced the same guns and others under there name til they closed there plant in canada and then Lakefield took over the model 64 design then bought out by Savage around mid 1990's. Dale inCanada
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